brintnall



Nov. 29, 1927.

T. M. BRINTNALL LOWERING FLOOR Original iled Oct. 11. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. Imam/m.

ATTORNE Nov. 29, 1927.

T. M. BRINTNALL LOWERING FLOOR Original Filed Oct.

|||||||||l|| I l l I l lulllJ-ql. Dali 4 T. M. BRINTNALL LOWERING FLOOR Original Filed Oct. 11. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y lj I N VEN TOR.

it; ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 29, 3927.

UNITED STATES THOMAS M. BRINTNALL. OF

KLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR- TO THE BRINTNALL MANUFACTURING COMTPANY, A CORPOBATEON OF NEVADA.

LOXVERING FLGOR.

Application filed October 11, 1924, Serial No. 743,030.

The present invention relates to lowering floors, such as are employed in front of bank vaults, sales and the like, to meet conditions where the flooring immediately in front of a vault may be arranged on the same level as the floor interiorly of the vault, while capable of being temporarily lowered to allow for opening or closing of the vault door.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a floor ot' the character described which embodies simple, etlicient and economical construction, present types being quite complicated and expensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor of the character described, and an operating mechanism therefor, which may be readily installed or removed substantially as a unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor of the character described. together with simple operating means therefor whereby the floor will always maintain a true level in either up or down position, as well as during its interval of motion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for floors of the above character which is simple and rugged in construction and in which the floor is maintained locked against accidental movement, both in up and down position.

A further object of the invention is to provide for locking the floor b v inexpensive :1." and dependable means.

Still other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

I have illustrated by the accompanying drawings three embodiments of my inven- -t0 tion.

In the said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view ol one embodiment of my invention. certain parts of the embodiment. as will be indicated hereinafter, being omitted for the salve ot clearuess:

Figure 2 is another plan view of the emhodiment. or smaller scale, in which view all parts omitted in Figure l a re shown. including a portion ot a vault to which the embodiment is applied:

Figure I) is a view in section on a line :35l of Figure 1 showing the mechanism i )or in the usual or raised position:

"e i a somewhat diagrammatic some of the parts shown in Figure Renewed May 14, 1927.

3, as they appear when the floor is in lowered position;

Figure 5 is a. view in cross section seen on a line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section of a modified form showing the floor in raised posit-ion;

Figure 7 is a. similar view showing the floor in lowered position:

Figure 8 is a plan view of the embodiment showing the parts underlying the floor, the latter being removed to reveal such underlying parts;

Figure 9 is a view in horizontal cross section of the parts shown in Figure 8; the floor being also shown in place.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of another form Of the invention, such form being adapted for operation by a persons weight.

Figure 11, is a view in vertical section thereof as the part appears in raised or normal position.

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the parts when the floor is in lowered position.

Figure 13 is a tragmentarv view in vertical section of a. slight modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 10.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, particularly, 15 indicates the front. wall of a vault provided with a door jamb 16 (see Figures 2 and 5; also Figure 9). The door jamb is stepped as usual in conformance with the construction of usual vault doors, such as 17. The floor, or floor level. int-criorly ot the vault is above the level of the lowermost part of the vault door, as in the case illustrated in Figure 9.

To provide for a flooring externally ot the vault. level with the floor ot the vault, a movable floor or platform 20 is provided. A. pit 21 is provided under said movable floor. It will be apparent. from Figures 5 and 9. that the door can be swung from open to closed position. or vice versa. onl v when the floor is lowered. That end of the floor which is adjacent the door when the latter is in open position. as shown in Figure 3. is narrower than the other end. The reduced part of said floor is complemented by a lixed shield or floor member -3, which is fixedly disposed under the open door at the level which the movable floor .is'nlne's when in lowered position. S ldineaiber 23 wi 'e'rs that portion of the nit coming? below the open door and provides against accidents 'y covering an unsigl'itly and QOSSlblfJ dangerous exposed part of the pit.

From the lowering floor to thevaulti floor a light portable bridii'e 24: is usually extended vide a complete metal lining for the-upper partof the pit, said lining being hereinafter termed the pit casing. The pit casing is greater in width thanthe rectangular frame of angle irons. In Figure l. the lowering floor or platform issshown removed, as well all thatportion of the pit casing; which comes above the said. frame. shown particularly in: Figure the pit is also supported by the legs 29. SO. 31 and S2. and is thereby incor tiorated in a unit with the frame. Therefore. the complete unit of the pit casing. and the. frame and leg members may-he installed or removed from pit as a unit. In designing a lowering floor for a newbank, the complete device may be built and assembled. outside oi? and even remotely from the pit, and later be quicklyinstalled.

ln conformance with? salient feature of the. invention. the upper edges 36 of the longitudinal. frame members 25 and 27 are disposed on a true horizontal plane preterably, and provide" tracks on. which i'iangec wheels such as c? may ride. Said wheelsare carried by trucks 38 whichiiiiclude truck frame members 39 spaced apart and. tied by members l-. Each truck. preferably, has four wheels'and respective trucks,- two in number preferably, are disposed at respec tiveends of the pit. l mmenicmbers and love joined by'a pla in which is revolubly mounted. a centrally located union gear l2, an arched plate 43 providing an upper bearing and guard for the pinionnnd its shaft Each truclr is provided with a rack 4.5, tied to its truclr as at and extend- 1 t to operatively engage he pinion. will be apparent now that when one truelris moved toward the-center of the pit the other truck. through tie medium of the pinionband the other rack. will also move toward the center. One truck provided with a spring and the other truckis moved in. e ther direction by means of alevcr 51. and alink The link is pivoted to the truck, as at 53. and. the lever pivoted. a fixed point. such ash-it. and connects pivotl lywith the link at 55.

At one end of the pit-casing, at a suital'ile location, a borolike casing 56 is provided. enclosing a small space 57. A transverse shaft 58 is supported by opposite sides; of the cas 'ng and on this shaft a lever .59 is i'nountec 1 be oscillated forwardly or rearwairdly with regard to thedirecti'on of travel of the trucks. The levertern'iinatcs in a soclieted end 60 in which may be inserted a rcino *ahle portable lever handle 61. The lever is connected with the first mentioned lever by means of a long link 62 and pivot pins 60 and (54c. respectively. lllherefore. when the handle is moved toward the pit the trucks will move apart and Ywhonthe handle is oppositely moved the trucks will move toward each other.

For each truck there is provided a shaft or axle 66 having flanged wheels 6"? which are revoluble independently of the truck wheels and which serve another and distinct purpose, will nowappear. lln fact, when the trucks move in either direction the attached shaft 66 moves therewith. carrying its wheels. In fact. tie truck moving.mechanism provided for the purpose of controlling and changing the locat on of s-aid wheels within the pit.

The floor or platform is oil struction and incl dog a single plate 6? rein'toi'ced below by angle irons ($8. The plate may be ornamentally or othemvise covered by tiled?) or other suitable fluorine. such as is employed by those skilled in the art. A salient feature of the floor is that it includes vertically depei'iding members it), one for each of the wheels 67. The normal position of thefour whee 67 with reg-arc to the floor and vault best understood by referring to Figure particularly, in which said wheels andtheir shafts 66 are carefully shown in broken lines. Each of the depending members is provided with a lower inclined edge simple con 2' plane 68 which is ada 'ited to ride on the perimeter of a corrcspmidr wheel. In the preferred 0 nstruetio..,. cliued plane members are error-god in pairs, one p1. adjacent each end of the floor. The members of a pair 1!! arranged in parallel relation. with their planes s? iiierlyarrarigged while one pair of members is opposed to the other pair of men'ihers, so that the inclined surfaces of one pair of members a e inch; )d cppositelyto the surfacesottho other pair. To best explain the operationof the device. itwillibe assumed that the trucks are stationary in. the position shown in Figure 3. The floor maybe caused to repose directly on-the four wheels. The floor will remain level and is evenly supported at four properly aranged points. ll will be noted that the inclines start from a lower horizontal surface 70 andv also terminate at an upper horizontal surface '7]. Ordinarily the trucks are moved far enough apartto provide for the lower surface reposinp; on the rims of the wheels. Therefore, the weight of the floor cannot exert any force to tend to move (ill the trucks toward each other. The same condition applies when the trucks are moved toward each other far enough to permit surfaces 71 to rest on the wheels. It will be seen that. simple and positive means are, therefore. provided for holding the floor positively in upper or lower positions, regardless of any sudden weight which may be imposed thereon. To lower the floor the handle is moved to force the trucks toward each other. First toward movement of the trucks brings the wheels under the inclines. Owing); to the slight or comparatively ine'll'ective angle of the incline. the weight of the platform is applied quite indirectly in forcing the trucks together and friction will act to some extent to prevent undesirably fast lowering or dropping" of the floor. The slight angle of inclination. when the floor is being raised, works quite oppositely to actually reduce friction. In fact, the angles and leverages are such that the floor may be raised with comparative ease by any person of ordinary strength. ll hen the floor is lowered to lowermost position. it is level with the shield which underl es the open door. lvhen the floor is in such position the vault door may be swung to clo ed position.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, a floor 79 is provided with a somewhat different form of inclined plane member, designated by the numeral 80.

Said members are each provided with an inclined surface 81, as well as a reserve inclined surface 82. The latter is not used ordinarily. but provides for the member being reversible, to increase its life, and make all such members identical and interchangeable. Several such members depend from the lowering floor while other such members 80 are extended upwardly from the floor 83 of the pit. The pit is lined with a pit casingor lining; 8 1. and the floor 79 is provided with guide rollers running against the pit casing to insure against horizontal movement of the floor. and to take up any lateral thrust. A single large truck 85 is provided which is made up of frame members 86, S7, S8 and 89. A plurality of transverse shafts 'are revolubly mounted in and carried by said truck. Forward movement of the truck limited by abutment of projections 91. with the pit casino. Asmall box-like casing 92 houses a shaft 93 on which rocks an operating lever 9-1. The latter is pivolally connected. as at 95. to a link 00 which is pivotally connected at 97 to a yoke 98. Yoke 98 is bolted to the truck frame, as at 99. The truck is advanced and retracted in the pit by movement of the lever 94:. lVheels .100 are provided. two for each shaft, and said wheels are shown as keyed to their respective v shafts as at 101.

Other wheels 102 are provided, said wheels being loose running fits on the shafts, so that they may revolve independently of keyed wheels and the shafts. lVheels 102 are the running; wheels for the truck and these in cline members which are arranged on the lloor of the pit serve as trucks for said wheels.

The incline members which are carried by the lowering floor ride on the keyed wheels. The incline plane members are provided each with resting; surfaces 103 and 1, re- .f' ptCl'lYtly. to provide for holding the floor securely in raised as well as lowered position. As the trucks and attached wheels are mored rerrwardly. the truck not only will descend toward the floor of the pit. but the movable floor will also descend relative to the truck. Therefore, the descent of the moving floor is twice as fast as it would be if the tracks were level, instead of inclined. Figure (3 clearly shows the relative positions of parts when the floor is in uppermost position. Figure. '7 shows the position of the same parts when the floor is lowered, the floor in each case actually resting on a flat surface rather than on an inclined plane. One of the wheels on which the floor rides is shown in Figure 8 as moved inward from the other wheel. Said inwardly positioned wheel to provide for a narrow portion (not shown) at that end of the floor. The angles of the inclined surfaces are designed to reduce friction when the floor is being raised. while increasing; friction during lowerinsr to prevent too sudden drop on the part of the floor. The operation of the embodiment just described is practically the same as the first described. but the last described emhorlii pit of i t provides for maximum lift in a imuni depth. the form of the invention shown in 10. 11 and 12. a floor 110 is provided liming: inclined surface members 111. a sin- Q'le horizontally movable frame 112 is provided which comprises cud members 114; and side members 11?. The side members carry inwardly projecting stub axles 115. on which wheels 110 are mounted. llach two adjacent stub axles are connected to each other by a beam 117. To Fig. 10. only one side of the complete embodiment shown. but it is understood that the other side is identical. From a beam such as 111'. on one side. a lined axle 118 cvten' s laterally across the frame to a similar opposed beam. which as explained. is not shown. .=-\l-'o the drawing: shows. in complete detail only one typical end of the embodiment, and it is to be un- (lei-stood that the end not shown is identical to the end shown. The complete frame should have four sets of wheels, such as 116.

The wheels.

and therefore the complete frame. ride on tracks 110 which are situate in the bottom of the pit 120. The frame may be termed a truck; the long lixed axles carrying wheels or r llers; 121 incline enrt'nce members ride.

i one direction S0 t int Whit-r i ed in one direction 7 Will be rnlsel or the iloor will be lowered when t 1e fro in mm' l l the other 1% 3ction. it: nembere ii'icliido the and In :1 casing 12%;. nttv on vii i Q. line or,

125, I provide on ole. having a, pllliill'i l' ot casters 1255 which members lit) and movement 0: the nor" elevating p ii a, bell-crank l: piv, real on 21 sl' rift ll- )lZlCG by to:

ll hen snitebie plotter-in it will be LlCPI'SS' Il'l n will he torcib loved k0 tlr ,7 the floor to rise. ll hen the floor 1S ri its Wheels will rest on the lower lint oi? the incline members.

lVlien in 'iiieed poeition t port any Weight WlifltGYEl' posed uponit Without being and when, it is desired to lo T03 the floor thtriicl-c must be moved to the right EL dietnnce so that the supporting vh rollers will be in contact with inciireo "feces. For the PUL'POSG moving l lit l slightly to the right so the. it me; Sill qiicntly descend by its own Weight, 1 pro vide posh rod MO, a bell creel; .i a connecting link lf' Q l .n. 1U linl; lire; )ll'lS l-lZ-l and, 14 rcrsocctirelax con i l H with the bell crzinl'. The lili by a pin 1.45. lower end l-lf cntei'ieioii l-tf'l oi" the truck, 5- push rod being depress to the right I in Will now be apparent floor shown in Figs. 10, ll,

ieceseery to push the push l. 'io he floor again from the poeitioi Fig. 12, the operator places on. entire Weight, on the elevated by menus of the leverage V tremelv heavy floor is easily 1 In theform ot the i'ive'i" thnt tr lower tlr ind , 7 pie my be applied to any of -he embodiments deecribed.

l fhile l have shown mid described specific and :ii'rone'en'ients oit parts, ll

, ope 0t my in- Jioendcd clz'iin'ie.

tlOllI ll S e con tructio l claim 1 ln combinntion, '1 pit, n plat-form movi in said pit, l platform so ictrcell i precluded n'iovement, inclined plane and wheels, one oi the lost-inen tio'ied being; m vable horizoni'nlly and the JQlltlOllQil being fixed to operable externally of is between said lever movable members.

e nit, olettorm movsaid platform so as to oe practically precluded tel niovemvnt, inclined plane wheels, one oi? the last men- V move-31c horizontally and the Li mentioned being fixed to the :i lever operable externally of the d connections between said lever and orizontzilly movable members; said no; supported entirely o said Wheels and lined plane members.

I combination, :1 pit, a platform movole vertically in said pit; said platform so fitting therein as to be plflCtiCzllly precluded from horizontal. movement, inclined plane members and Wheels, one oi? the lost men tioned being tired to the platform, a lever operable externally oi the pit, and connec- 1% between said and said horizonn'iovnole 3 members being provider 1 co z oit the plane nrfece, said \i'llt nclined plane i end platform no relatively poeitione "that the Wheels and oid horn rite continnzitione are in contact when the floor is in telly raised position.

l ((Llfllilfitltlfil'l, n pit, ii platform movwheels and said horizontal continuations are in contact when the floor in fully raised position.

5. In combination, a. vault, a floor to said vault, a door to said vault having a lower portion below the level of the vault floor, a pitin front of said vault and door, a floatingfloor in said pit movable upward to the level of the vault door and movable downward to below the lowermost portion of said door, inclined plane members, wheels coacting therewith, means for moving" said wheels in a general horizontal direction relative to said inclined plane members, and a floating tloor supported by said wheel; and inclined plane members.

6. In combination, a vault. a floor to sald vault, a door to said vault having a lower portion below the level of the vault floor, a pit in front of said vault and door, a float-- ing floor in said pit movable upward to the level of the vault floor and .novable down ward to below the lowermo. n'tion of said door, inclined plane members. wheels co-act ing therewith, means for moving said wheel in a general horizontal. direction relative to said inclined plane members. a floating floor supported by said wheels and inclined plane members, and means for preventing hori- Zontal travel on the part of said lloating floor.

7. In combination, a vault. a floor to said vault, a door to said vault having a lower portion below the level of the vault floor, a pit in front of said vault and door, a floating floor in said pit movable upward to the level of the vault floor and movable downward to below the lowermost port-ion of mild door, inclined plane members, wheels co-acting therewith, means for moving said wheels in a general horizontal direct-ion relative to said inclined plane members, and a floating floor supported by said wheels and inclined plane members, said wheel n'ioving' means operable from above the floating floor.

8. In combination, a vault. a floor to said vault, a door to said vault having a lower portion below the level of the vault floor, a pit in front of said vault and door, a floating floor in said pit movable upward to the level of the vault and movable downward to below the lowermost portion of said door, inclined plane members. wheels co-acting therewith, means for moving said wheels in a general horizontal direction relative to said inclined plane members, a floating floor supported by said wheels and inclined plane members, and means for preventing horizontal travel on the part of said floatingfloor, said wheel moving: means operable from above the door.

9. In combination, a pit, generally horizontal tracks in sa d pit. trucks running on said tracks. a floating tloor movable vertically in said pit, and presenting inclined surfaces at its under side, and means carried by said trucks co-acting with said inclined sur faces whereby horizontal movement of the lruclas will proviso vertical movement on the part of said floor.

10. In combination, a pit, generally hori zontal traclvs in said plt, t1ucl s running on said tracks. a floating tloor movable vertically in said pit, and presenting inclined surfaces at it under side and means carried by said trucks co-acting with said inclined surfaces whereby horizontal movement of the trucks will provide vertical movement on the part of said floor, said floor resting solely and delachedly upon the means carried by said trucks.

ll. In combination, a pit generally horizontal tracks in sid pit. trucks running on said tracks, a floating lloor movable verticallv in said pit, and presenting inclined surfaces at its under side, and means carried by said trucks co-actino' with said inclined surfaces whereby horizontal. movement of the trucks will p ovide vertical movement on the part of said lloor, said lloor resting solely and detachably upon the means carried by said trucks, and means to prevent other than vertical movement on the part of said floor.

12. in a device of the class described, inclined plane members presenting a lower horizontal surface, an upper horizontal surface, and inclined surfaces connecting each lower horizontal surface with the corresponding upper horizontal surface, friction reducing means below said members adapted to support said members, means for moving said friction reducing; means in a general horizontal direction to produce raising or lowering of said members, and a floating floor arranged to be raised directly by and with said inclined plane members.

13. In a device of the class described, gem orally horizontal tracks, trucks running on said tracks, roller means carried by said trucks. a floor above said trucks presenting inclined surfaces to said roller means, and a pit casing in which said floor is vertically movable and guided; said floor being full floating: and supported entirely by said roller means.

l-l. In a device of the class described, generally horizontal tracks, trucks running on said tracks, roller means carried by said trucks, a floor above said trucks presenting inclined surfaces to said roller means, means operable from above said floor for causing said trucks to travel along said tracks, and a pit casing: in which said floor is vertically movable and guided; said floor being),- full floating and supporlel'l entirely by said roller means.

15. In a device of the class described. a parallel arrangement of frame members, two parallel members of said frame presenting upper edges, a wheeled truck adapted to 65 eary/s run with its wheels riding on said upper edges, roller means ez'irried by said trunks, a pit casing including walls arrani formance with the arrangement irame members, means lying sau l in conof seal d l frame members and said pit casing walls in a unit, a floating iloor vertically movable in said p t and prevented from horizontal. travel by the inolined surface said apper edges, roller means carried by said tracks, a pit cas ng inelnd'ng; walls ar ranged in conforman e it'li the arrange ment of said frame embers, means tying said frame members and said pit casino: Walls in a unit, a floating 'iloor "rtieally movable in said pit and p evented i horizontal travel by the wall; of said or inclined surface members dependii said floor and presenting: incl ned sari raid roller means, whereby travel or said wheeled trucks in a general horizontal direction will act to r ise or lower said floor. and means operable from above said iloor for imparting a general horizontal travel to said tracks.

17. In combination, walls encompassing an open pit, two members in said pit movable in a general horizontal direction, to ward and away from each other, roller means carried by said horizontally movable members, and a floor freely dentin; in said pit, said floor presenting oppositely inclined surfaces to corresponding roller members whereby forward or retrograde movement oi said members will act to raise or lower said floor.

18. In combination, walls encompassing an open pit, two members in said "pit movable in a general horizontal direction, toward and away from each other, roller means carried by said horizontally movable members, a floor freely floating in said pit, said floor presenting oppositely inclined surfaces to corresponding roller members whereby forward or retrograde movement of said members will act to raise or lower said floor, and means operable by a person standing; on or near said floor for imparting forward and retrograde movement on the part of said two members.

THOMAS M. BRINTNALL. 

